"The Price"

Written by David Fury
Directed by Marita Grabiak

Angel Episode #63

Originally Aired on April 29th, 2002

Disclaimer: "Angel"; is (c) 2000 by the Twentieth Century Fox Film
Corporation; "Angel"; is produced by Mutant Enemy, Inc., Greenwolf Corp, Kazui
Enterprises, and Sandollar Television for Twentieth Century Fox Television.

TEASER

INT. ANGEL'S HOTEL - ANGEL'S ROOM - DAY

ON CRACKS in the wall. A HAND enters frame and runs a finger along them. PULL OUT to see the hand belongs to

ANGEL, who studies it, lost in his thoughts.

GROOSALUGG (O.S.)
Angel...
WIDEN as Angel looks over at the GROOSALUGG who steps up beside him, and speaks to him with grave concern.

GROOSALUGG
You and I have fought side by side on
more than one occasion -- Fellow
warriors, shoulder to shoulder. By
now, my counsel must assuredly hold
weight, so I beseech you to heed my
words...
ANGEL
(shrugging)
Mmo-kay.

GROOSALUGG
"Pomegranate Mist" is the wrong color
for this room.

ANGEL
What?

CUT WIDE to see a flurry of activity in the room (which has been mostly repaired since the earthquake, though some cosmetic damage remains). CORDELIA polishes away at a dresser (in what was once the baby's area); GUNN slides the scorched stove back into place; FRED spackling away at a large hole in the plaster chimes in:

FRED
We were just thinking... Well, I was
thinking and Groo agreed... That,
well, since we have to repaint your
room anyway, maybe you'd like a
change. Y'know, for a change.
ANGEL
Groo agreed?

GROOSALUGG
"Sunburst splendor" is a hue more
worthy of a champion. Or perhaps
this unique one called...
(sounding it out)
"Purr-Pleh."
ANGEL
(correcting him)
Purple.
(then)
And yet you had no problem
pronouncing "Pomegranate."

ANGEL
We're not throwing it out.
(to others)
And the wall color stays, too. Look,
guys, I appreciate everybody's
help... Really. But I just want
everything back the way it was, okay?
(then, as he moves)
Or... close to it.
Angel carries the end table back near Cordelia.

CORDELIA
Not gonna be, y'know?
Angel looks at her. She gestures to the wall and molding.

CORDELIA
Ah, the old "gives the place"
character" philosophy. Guess that
served you pretty well living in
rotted out mansions and--
She stops when she sees him reach down and bring up...

A SNOWGLOBE. Inside, a primary colorful fairy-tale castle, a CAT CHARACTER in a suite of armor engaged in an action tableau with a cartoony DRAGON - very Disney-like (thought nothing to be litigious about).

Angel sits on a chair as he turns the globe over, revealing a TURNKEY. He winds it. "Brahm's Lullaby" plays as he turns it upright, the faux snow falling on the scene.

ANGEL
Don't know why I bought this for him.
A whim, I guess... Thought he'd like
to look at it. The snow. Doesn't
ever snow in Southern California.
ON CORDELIA, watching him.

CORDELIA
Did, once.
He looks up at her. Then turns and notices the others looking at him as well. After a moment, Angel stands...

ANGEL
Hey, y'know... we shouldn't be
wasting our time fixing up my place
when we've got work to do.
He starts toward the door, the snowglobe still in his hand.

SPIVEY (cont'd)
Hey! Hell--
He stops suddenly when something at his feet catches his eye. He glances down. FOLLOW his gaze to the floor and WIDEN as we see the faint stain of the PENTAGRAM Angel painted in episode 17.

NEW ANGLE ON SPIVEY, squinting at the unholy image. As he looks back up and scans the reception area with a certain amount of impatience, he fails to see SOMETHING moving in the B.G.:

SPIVEY (cont'd)
Uh, look... Unless you want me to
take my business someplace else...
He waits one more moment for a response.

SPIVEY (cont'd)
Fine.
(turning to leave;
under his breath)
Probably couldn't find my dog anyw--
BAM! The SLUK is suddenly on his face. He staggers back as two of the creature's tentacles insert themselves into his nostrils, instantaneously injecting him with paralyzing toxins as he makes no move to stop it. His eyes go WIDE with terror as the SLUK forces and folds itself into his mouth (perhaps muffling his blood-curdling SCREAM of pain and horror, if in fact he screams at all.)

NEW ANGLE - ANGEL descending the stairs. He stops when he notices SPIVEY, whose back is to him.

ANGEL
(to himself)
Yyyes...
(brightening, to
Spivey)
Hi! Sorry. Hope you weren't, uh...
Can I help you?
ON THE GUY - a moment passes before he slowly turns to look at Angel. The Sluk's gone, but the man's expression and demeanor have changed. He seems distracted and odd. Angel's too anxious to notice.

SPIVEY
What-- what was that?
ANGEL
I was just saying... If you're
looking for Angel Investigations, I'm
he. Him. Angel. And you are...?

PANNING across the small establishment (which a neon sign identifies as "KING OF THE JUICE BAR"), we see a few CUSTOMERS - mother and child, young couple - shooting aghast glances over at another area from which we HEAR SLURPING NOISES, alternating with RASPY breaths.

The CAMERA comes to settle upon a pimply KID behind the counter, conferring with a concerned-looking MANAGER in hushed whispers. The Kid points, the Manager looks at

SPIVEY, standing nearby, guzzling down two large drinks in both hands, almost simultaneously. Finishing them, licking every drop of moisture left around the rims, he drops the cups to the floor.

TILT DOWN with them to show the floor around him is littered with a dozen or so other empty cups at his feet.

As he steps back up to the counter, he appears more GAUNT since the teaser, his skin's turned POWDERY and ASHEN, his hair BRITTLE and COLORLESS, his lips DRY and CRUSTY. Also, his breathing is HARSH and LABORED.

SPIVEY
(to Kid)
More. Like the last ones.
SPIVEY fishes out his wallet as the Manager steps in.

MANAGER
I don't wanna be rude, sir, but
you've been here for almost six
hours...
KID
(chiming in)
And, like, a hundred peach smoothies.

MANAGER
And I think... I think you're not
well. Sir.

KID
(to Spivey)
Dude, you haven't taken a whiz since
you got here.

Spivey rips apart his cash-empty wallet - a couple of pennies bounce off the counter - and pulls out a few credit cards, pushing them at the Manager.

SPIVEY
Please.
MANAGER
We don't take credit cards.

SPIVEY
Water. Water, then.

MANAGER
Sir, if you don't leave, I'm gonna
call the pol--

SPIVEY grabs the stunned Manager by his shirt and yanks him across the counter.

CLOSE ON SPIVEY, his eyes wild with desperation. He takes a deep raspy breath and croaks out:

FRED (O.S.)
It's funny. Well, sad, actually...
PULL OUT to find it's her POV as she watches Angel from the other side of the reception area. GUNN's next to her, leaning on a mop.

FRED
I keep expecting to find... I mean,
it's weird seeing Angel sitting at
that desk.
GUNN
(shrugging)
It was his when I got here. Seems
right that it's his again.

FRED
Yeah. But, thing's have cooled down
a little since...
(struggling)
I'm just saying maybe it's time to...
Look, he doesn't have to forgive
Wesley.

GUNN
(snort)
Glad you think so, 'cuz not happenin'.

FRED
No. Right. He shouldn't.
(unwilling to drop it)
But... isn't there some way to, I
don't know... come back from this?

GUNN
No unless Wes comes back with that
baby under his arm. And even then,
Angel'd probably kill him on
principle.

FRED
(uncertain)
Y--You don't really think that.

GUNN
He took the man's son.
(then)
Probably best we never mention the
guy's name again.

And he crosses away, ending the discussion.

CORDELIA (O.S.)
Well, I give up...
ON CORDELIA, dew-ragged, scrubbing away at the faded pentagram on the floor. A bucket of soapy water next to her.

CORDELIA
Tried soaking it out, tried scrubbing
it out... No question, we got ring
around the lobby.
(getting to her feet)
I say we toss in the towel and buy a
big ass throw rug. Who's with me?
ON GROO, on his knees at the other side of the pentagram, scrub brush in rubber gloved hand.

GROOSALUGG
That honor is mine, Princess.
CORDELIA
Aww.
(air kisses him)
Groo, honey... Do me a favor and
dump out the bucket.

Groo retrieves the bucket, offers her a smile and exits. Fred approaches Cordy.

FRED
Cordelia...
CORDELIA
(re: Groo)
He is such a sweetie. So loyal. And
loving. Like a puppy-dog.

She crosses to the reception desk, taking off her gloves, removing her scarf. Fred follows.

FRED
Cordy...?
CORDELIA
I know. That didn't sound very good.
But he is. A puppy-dog. A sexy,
well-built, go-all-night, puppy-dog.
(then)
Okay, that sounded worse.

FRED
Why? Why can't you? You've
known them both longer than anybody.
Angel would listen to you...

CORDELIA
Probably. But he doesn't want to
hear it. Which is why I'm not going
to burden him--

FRED
Look, whatever he did... It's Wesley.
You care about it. I know you do.
Can you imagine the pain he's in, how
horrible he must be feeling--

CORDELIA
Angel's feelings are the only ones I
care about. He's my priority.

WIDEN past Cordy to find GROO's standing in the room. He's heard these last words and appears hurt and bewildered by them, though neither Fred or Cordy notice him.

CORDELIA (cont'd)
I got dosed with demon DNA for that
man. I'm semi-demon! And I still
don't know what that means... Apart
from the random floatyness and
seizure-less visions, which is keen
except sometimes it's hard to tell
when I'm having--
She stops when she notices

ANGEL, standing next to her, staring past her at nothing, a look of astonishment on his face. He's wearing the same clothes, thought somewhat disheveled and his shirt's ripped.

CORDELIA (cont'd)
Where did you--
Suddenly, Angel puts his arm up, blocking some unseen attack. As Cordy looks behind her to find the assailant, Angel GRUNTS and flies back against the front desk with terrific force.

CORDELIA (cont'd)
Angel?!
Before she can move to him, he DISAPPEARS. Then...

CLOSE ON SPIVEY - TWO deep, dusty CRACKS have opened across his face, his lips, as a THIRD opens up by his temple. He's further withered, his sunken eyes, bereft of reason. His breathing more labored than before.

CUT OUT to see he's behind the counter, holding the KID up by his shirt, shaking him. The place is in shambles. The Kid produces a key from his pocket.

THE GANG re-enters, Groo carrying Spivey in his arms. Angel barks out order, totally in charge.

ANGEL
Put him on the couch.
Groo does just that.

ON SPIVEY, looking like a shriveled apple. A CRACK on his face, SPREADS and WIDENS.

FRED
My God. Look at his face.
ANGEL
Fred, any water in the fridge?

FRED
A few bottles, I think.

ANGEL
We're gonna need 'em.

She goes. Lorne calls after her.

LORNE
Some Chapstick wouldn't hurt, either,
kitten.
CORDELIA
Angel--

ANGEL
(thinking)
"We..."

GUNN
Glad you're having fun with this.

ANGEL
No. He kept saying "we." This
morning is was "we have to go." Now,
"we're thirsty..."

CORDELIA
Okay, so he's pretentious. Angel, we
have to talk about my vision--

ANGEL
It can wait.

CORDELIA
(getting in his face)
No. It can't! You think The Powers
beam me pretty pictures purely for my
amusement?! It tells me when
someone's in danger and this time
that someone's you!

ANGEL
Oh, gee, I'm in danger. What else is
new? Look, I want to deal with
somebody else's problems for a
change. I want to deal with Mr.
Phillip Spivey of Inglewood...

ON SPIVEY, his eyes fluttering open as he regains consciousness, though no one notices.

BACK TO ANGEL and CORDY. Everyone watching.

ANGEL (cont'd)
Who came to use this morning for help.
He's the one we need to be concerned
with. Not me. This has nothing to
do with me.
FRED re-enters, sees something and GASPS. They turn to see SPIVEY, up on his feet, pointing an accusing finger at Angel.

SPIVEY
(in a dry rasp)
This is all your fault.
With that, he falls face-first onto the lobby floor, dead. The IMPACT causes his head and body to BREAK APART and CRUMBLE AWAY in a dusty heap.

EVERYONE stares stunned for a moment, then looks at

ANGEL, who can only offer a weak shrug.

BLACK OUT.

END OF ACT ONE
The Price
Written by: David Fury
Teaser
Act One
Act Two
INT. ANGEL'S HOTEL - LOBBY - CONTINUOUS

THE GANG - As we left them, standing over the ruins of Mr. Spivey.

ON ANGEL, a little unnerved and a little hurt at Mr. Spivey's last words.

ANGEL
Uh huh. Cordy, you and the Groo make
a sweep of the third floor and word
your way down. Lorne and I'll start
at the top.

Lorne swings his sword around a little awkwardly, trying to get the feel of it.

LORNE
Uh... Exactly how do we know slicing
and dicing will do the trick on Mr.
Sluggo?
ANGEL
That's why Fred's gonna hit the
books. See if she can find out what
we're dealing with.

FRED
Angel... I--OI don't even know where
to being to look...

ANGEL
Start with thaumogenesis...

Lorne looks at him. Angel avoids eye contact.

FRED
Thaumo--?
ANGEL
Creatures manifested as a by-product
of using dark magic.

FRED
(understanding)
Ohh.

GUNN
(to Angel, re: Fred)
I'll stay with her. Keep watch.

ANGEL
Watch close. This thing's hard to
see.

CORDELIA
This thing drank every speck of
moisture out of a man's body.

Angel stops and looks at her.

CORDELIA (cont'd)
I'm just saying... Shouldn't we wait
to see what Fred finds out before we
go chasing around after it?
ANGEL
Longer we wait, the sooner that thing
finds a way out of here. And into
the world.

He slams the cabinet shut for emphasis.

ANGEL (cont'd)
And I'm not gonna let that happen.
They separate and move off.

INT. ANGEL'S HOTEL - HALLWAY - LATER

TRACKING with Angel and Lorne - slowly making their way down the hall.

ON LORNE - periodically peeking over at Angel. After a few moments of this...

ANGEL
There's a price to pay. I know.
There's always a price. Question
is... Is it one worth paying?
LORNE
So... Was this?

Angel considers his answer.

ANGEL
That spell I did was for nothing. I
didn't find my son. Now he's gone
forever. So, you ask me, was it
worth it? Would I do it again?
(beat)
In a heartbeat. Because he was my
son.
Lorne just looks at him, but before he can respond - CRASH!

They look toward the end of the hall and break into a run, coming to...

The partially ajar door to a vacant hotel room. A SLURPING noise can be hear.

ANGEL pushes the door open...

INT. ANGEL'S HOTEL- VACANT ROOM - CONTINUOUS

...and they enter the DARKENED room - the SLURPING louder now - and follow the SOUND toward the slightly open bathroom door.

ANGEL flips a light switch next to the door and a FLOOR LAMP in the room goes on. He flips another switch and the bathroom is illuminated. He pushes the door open and they see

A SLUK - slurping away at the water in the open toilet tank, its porcelain cover shattered on the floor.

The creature suddenly rears up, SCREECHES and charges them.

LORNE, in a panic, brings up his sword, accidentally smashing the FLOOR LAMP, knocking it over, plunging that half of the room into darkness.

He's about to bring his sword down again when Angel grabs his wrist.

LORNE
Angel? What are you--?
ON ANGEL, staring at

THE SLUK, giving off a BLUE-ISH PHOSPHORESCENT GLOW in the darkness (like some deep sea jellyfish), slithering across the floor, leaving a short, dissipating phosphorescent trail behind it. It makes for the door to the hallway.

ON ANGEL - In an instant, he pulls out the dagger and flings it.

ON THE SLUK as the dagger pins it to the floor. It SCREECHES in pain. Then goes limp.

PAN UP as ANGEL and LORNE approach it.

LORNE (cont'd)
Well, go team.
He leans down to get a better look at the dead creature.

LORNE (cont'd)
That wasn't so--
SCREECH!

LORNE'S POV - THE SLUK tears itself from the knife and hurls itself up at him and the CAMERA.

INT. ANGEL'S HOTEL - ANGEL'S OFFICE - MEANWHILE

ARCING AROUND FRED, at the desk (on which we may notice the snowglobe), numerous open books before her. She appears tense and frazzled.

FRED
(frustrated)
God... I hate this...
ADJUST to reveal GUNN standing in the doorway, his crossbow at the ready, looking absolutely wigged.

GUNN
(sharing his fear)
I'm with you... That creepy crawler
was seriously messed up. With those
feelers or whatever sticking out of
its face... slithering around like a
worm with its slimy--
FRED
N-no, Charles... I meant... I hate
going through these books.

Gunn looks at her, a little embarrassed.

GUNN
Oh. Oh, yeah. Books. That's...
rough.
He goes back to looking out the door.

FRED
Everything on "Thaumogenesis" is...
is so cryptic. And full of words I
never heard of, like "amulatives"
and... and I have to keep cross-
referencing "Chaldean" with "Accadian
majicks"...
She pauses, noticing he's not looking at her.

FRED (cont'd)
Are you listening to me?
GUNN
(not taking his eyes
off the lobby)
Yeah. "Accordion music." Go on...

FRED sighs.

FRED
I mean, ask me to research stuff on
wave-particle dualities or the
Schrodinger Equation and I'm a
hellcat. But this...
She holds up a particularly large and ancient tome for emphasis.

FRED (cont'd)
Angel's just go to realize that I'm
just not as qualified for this as...
She stops herself as GUNN looks at her. She was about to say "the name."

FRED (cont'd)
Some people.
GUNN (O.S.)
Yeah, well, "some people" aren't
around anymore. So, you're just
gonna have to learn to get good at
it...

As they talk, PUSH PAST GUNN, out the door to the

LOBBY AREA.

TILT UP to an EMPTY SPACE fifteen or so feet up.

FRED (O.S.)
Well, but, what if I fail? What if
I can't find anything to help us?
FLASH - a small electrical charge occurs in mid-air over the lobby floor, accompanied by a CRACKLING NOISE.

GUNN (O.S.)
We'll manage. Not sayin' I don't
prefer something I can punch...
CLOSE ON the charge as TWO SLUKS appear, then fall (FLOP FLOP) to the floor (and, incidentally, onto the pentagram.)

GUNN (cont'd; O.S.)
But I think we can handle once little
slug from hell.
They slither away in opposite directions.

INT. ANGEL'S HOTEL - SECOND FLOOR ROOM TBD - MEANWHILE

CORDELIA and GROO enter a heretofore unseen lounge of some kind. Possibly used at one time for imbibing cocktails, listening to a piano. A MAIL SLOT is attached to the wall somewhere, and there's a door marked "Exit" across the room from it.

CORDELIA
Poor Angel. It's eating away at him.
GROOSALUGG
(looking at her)
You are having another vision,
Princess?

CORDELIA
What? No. I meant... Knowing it was
the spell he performed, trying to
find Connor, that made this...
whatever it is we're hunting.
(beat)
Knowing that it caused a man's death.

GROOSALUGG
He is your priority.

CORDELIA
What?

GROOSALUGG
You said... earlier. Angel's
feelings were your only concern. He
is all that matters.

GUNN
There's more than one?
WIDE - Everyone's huddled in the lobby, by the reception desk, as Angel moves behind it.

ANGEL
Two, at least. Should probably
assume there are more.
LORNE
Do we have to?

ANGEL
But at least we have one advantage.

CORDELIA
What, they glow in the dark? How's
that supposed to help us, unless we
shut off all the lights in the holy
crap you're not serious.

She says this as she sees Angel pulling a few flashlights out of a drawer behind the counter. As well as a battery powered emergency lamp.

ANGEL
These things are hard enough to kill
as it is. I speared one and it was
still strong enough to attack us and
escape. If this makes them easier to
find, I say we take the chance.
FRED
(nervous)
All the lights?

Angel hands her the emergency lamp.

ANGEL
Here. Take this and lock yourself up
in the office. We still need
answers, Fred.
FRED
Right.

She nods, takes the map and heads back into the office.

GUNN
Boy, this just keeps gettin' funner
and funner.
ANGEL
Glad to hear you're enjoying this,
'cause somebody's got to go down to
the basement and shut off the power.

FRED is back at the desk, carefully reading from a tome. The emergency lamps rests nearby on the corner of the desk as the LIGHTS GO OUT.

As she leans over to pull the lamp closer, REVEAL

A GLOWING SLUK perched on the wall behind her.

CLOSE ON FRED - ambient BLUE light on her shoulder - as we see in her eyes that she senses it. She quickly swivels around and BAM - the Sluk is on her. Its paralyzing tentacles jam into her sinuses, paralyzing her, as it forces its way into her SCREAMING mouth...

BLACK OUT.

END OF ACT TWO
INT. ANGEL'S HOTEL - OUTSIDE BALLROOM - CONTINUING

DARKNESS. Then BEAMS from a couple of flashlights sweep the hallway as Angel, Cordy, Lorne and Groo enter.

LORNE
Where are we?
ANGEL
South wing. Haven't found a use for
it yet so we keep it closed up.

GUNN
Sorry it took me so long to get back.
Did a quick look around to see if any
slimeys were lurking. We're good.
Fred, who's partially turned away from him in the dim light of the lamp, seemingly engrossed in her research, doesn't answer.

GUNN (cont'd)
How you holding up, babe? You okay?
FRED looks up at him, her face pale (well, paler) in the ghostly light.

FRED
Scared. Very... scared.
He takes a step toward her and puts a hand on her shoulder.

GUNN
I know. It's gonna be okay. Just
have to keep it together. Watch each
other's backs.
She turns her face downward again. He goes off on his thoughts.

GUNN (cont'd)
Y'know, when this is over, I think
you and me should go away someplace.
Like Cordy and Groo got to do. Maybe
Baja. A little sun, sand. Think we
deserve--
FRED
(not looking up)
We have to get out of here.

Gunn squints at her.

GUNN
That's... what I'm sayin'. And we
will. Soon as we take care of these
things, I'll talk to Angel. Maybe--
He stops when he hears something. A SLURPING NOISE.

GUNN (cont'd)
Fred?
She doesn't answer. He reaches for the handle of the lamp, and raises it up, to see her face.

ON FRED, hunched over something. She suddenly turns to him and we see she's drinking from the SHATTERED SNOWGLOBE.

ON GUNN, registering the shock of what it means.

GUNN (cont'd)
Aw, no...
ON FRED, looking up at him, desperate, almost pleadingly.

FRED
We're thirsty.
INT. ANGEL'S HOTEL - BALLROOM - MEANWHILE

CLOSE ON A TABLE as it topples over, revealing the GROOSALUGG, who's done the topping. Cordelia, standing beside him, weapon raised. She relaxes.

ANOTHER TABLE'S PUSHED OVER, this time by ANGEL, LORNE behind him, ready to strike with his sword.

WIDE - On Angel, Lorne, Cordy and Groo as they continue to move through the room. There are tables and chairs scattered about, some with dusty tablecloths hanging off them. Cobwebs abound on the crystal chandeliers hanging from the ceiling.

We can now faintly HEAR the BIRD-LIKE CHIRPING sounds of which Cordelia was speaking.

CORDELIA
(frustrated)
Ugh. Where is that sound coming from?
ANGEL
Definitely in this room. Somewhere.

CLOSE ON LORNE, admiring the room.

LORNE
Y'know, this space is one part hum,
two parts dinger.
ON ANGEL, checking under a table.

LORNE (O.S.)
Ever think of turning it into a
nightclub?
ANGEL stands and looks at him.

GROO, kneeling in the center of the room, his head cocked to the side, listening.

GROOSALUGG
The sounds. They come from under.
ANGEL throws a look at Gunn, then moves to Groo. Cordy takes Fred and follows. Gunn hesitates, then joins them.

ON THE BATTLE-AXE as the Groosalugg raises it above his head and brings it down HARD on the floor, splintering the wood. The bird-like "chirping" noise crows LOUDER.

The others, including Gunn, help to pry up the floorboards, some using their swords. Then, when a big enough hole is made, they kneel on the floor and peer down into it.

THEIR POV - SLUKS, HUNDREDS of them, all GLOWING and swimming around in a murkey SWIMMING POOL, illuminated by their iridescence. The water down to a shallow level and draining rapidly. Some of the creatures are slithering out of the water. The "CHIRPING" is, in fact, the high-pitched WET, SUCKING noises emanating from the multitudes.

GUNN, standing in the hall of an apartment building. He's defiant, yet he can barely meet the eyes of whoever he's talking to.

GUNN
Need your help.
REVERSE to see WESLEY, standing at the door, wearing a t-shirt and sweatpants. He's unshaven, hair tousled, and his look doesn't betray any emotion to seeing Gunn. On that...

INT. ANGEL'S HOTEL - KITCHEN - MEANWHILE

ON FRED, sitting on the floor, sucking down more water. She's taken on that withered, ashy look. Her lips are cracked, and her breathing (when she takes the time to breathe) has become wheezy.

WIDEN to see CORDY next to her, stroking her hair. And LORNE, on the other side of her, holding her hand, offering whatever comfort he can. Oh, and it's really HOT in here, so people have loosened up their clothes accordingly.

TILT UP as GROO walks past them and PAN as he crosses to

ANGEL, at the swinging doors, looking through the door window, a few Sluks stuck to the glass.

GROOSALUGG
Angel. There are too many to fight
our way out.
ANGEL
I know.

He crosses to Fred, and grabs the water bottle out of her hand.

FRED
(delirious)
No! Water...
She springs to her feet, reaching for the bottle.

Angel pushes her back HARD against the counter, rattling the pots hanging there, and grips her at the throat.

CORDELIA
Angel! LORNE
Whoa! Easy!

ANGEL
(to Fred)
I wanna talk to that thing inside of
you. Now! I wanna know what you are.
FRED
We... We are... thirsty...

She reaches for the bottle. He holds it away and SHAKES her.

ANGEL
Work with me, Fred. Make it answer
me. What do you want here?
FRED
To live... To live... To drink...

Suddenly she starts to laugh, raspily, creepily.

ON ANGEL and the others staring at her.

FRED (cont'd)
And be merry.
She continues chuckling for a few beats, then just as suddenly sobers. Fear sinking in.

FRED (cont'd)
It hurts. Us. We have to get out.
Then SOUNDS are heard. Everyone reacts as pipes around them GROAN and SHUDDER.

CORDELIA
Sounds more like they want in.
CORDY, GROO and LORNE bring up their weapons and go into battle ready positions.

FRED
Have to flee. It brings pain...
(staring off)
Such pain...
LORNE
"It?" What happened to "we?" What's
with the pronoun switcheroo?

ANGEL
(to Fred)
What are you fleeing from?

FRED
The bringer of torment... agony...
death...
(shudder)
The Destroyer.

THE OTHERS share a wary look.

CORDELIA
Oh, that's a name you just don't want
to hear.
ANGEL
(to Fred)
Why is this "Destroyer" after you?

GUNN
Look, I don't have time to get into
it with you. I don't even wanna be
here.
REVERSE ON WESLEY - who just looks at him. Gunn continues...

GUNN (cont'd)
The hotel's infested with something.
Some kinda... slug, jellyfish thing.
We don't know what they are or how to
kill them.
WESLEY
(cooly, in a raspy
whisper)
Well, now, that is a problem.

Wesley turns away from him and crosses to his desk to pick up a glass of water there. It's all to turn his back on Gunn and Gunn knows it.

GUNN
These things... there's hundreds of
'em. They get inside you. And...
and soak up all the moisture in your
body. They drink you alive.
WESLEY
(raspy whisper)
Why come to me? I expect Angel'll
find a way to kill them eventually.

GUNN
That's not what I'm looking for. I
need to know how to get these slugs
out of someone once they're infected.
Force it out somehow...

Wesley stops, stricken. Without another word, he crosses to a cabinet across the room. He opens it revealing his liquor storage, he takes out an almost full bottle of vodka.

GUNN (cont'd)
What, we're gonna have a drink now?
Did you hear what I said? She's
dying!
Wes crosses to GUNN with the bottle.

WESLEY
I was dying. I knew it laying in
that dirty field, life pouring out of
my throat. Do you know why I fought
to stay alive?
GUNN
Wes, I don't have time--!

WESLEY
I needed to live to see my friends
again. To explain to the people I
trusted... and loved... my side of
what happened.

GUNN
We know what--

WESLEY
(louder)
You don't know anything.

He winces from the pain of raising his voice. Then thrusts the bottle at Gunn.

WESLEY (cont'd)
I'll help because it's Fred. But
just so we understand each other...
Don't ever come here again. None of
you are welcome here.
ON GUNN, looking at Wes, then the bottle in his hand.

INT. ANGEL'S HOTEL - KITCHEN - MEANWHILE

ON THE OVERHEAD PIPES, SHUDDERING and GROANING more violently now. Then FLAMES brush the pipes and the Sluks inside SQUEAL.

CUT OUT to see GROO, holding his axe up high, a torn table cloth tied around its head SET AFIRE - A makeshift torch. CORDY holds her sword, watching for any incoming Sluks.

FRED drinks ravenously from a bottle held by ANGEL. Her condition has deteriorated.

ANGEL pulls the bottle away. Fred reaches for it desperately.

FRED
No! We need more!
ANGEL
I need more. Tell me where you came
from.

Fred just looks down, shakes her head, MURMURING incoherently.

ON ANGEL - He purposefully turns the bottle over and lets the water pour out onto the floor.

FRED's head snaps up, she SHRIEKS uncontrollably and lunges at Angel. Clawing at him, scratching his face.

ANGEL (cont'd)
(shaking her)
Fred!
She suddenly goes weak and limp in his arms. And looks at him with steely eyes, says:

FRED
You're gonna die so horribly.
A DEEP CRACK suddenly OPENS across her face. Her eyes change. It's not the Sluk inside her, but Fred who says:

FRED (cont'd)
Oh, God. Help me...
ON ANGEL, coming to a decision. He passes Fred to Lorne, then moves to the large metal sink. He grabs nearby dirty dishrags and starts plugging up the drains. Then turns both faucets on, full blast.

ANGEL
Cordy, turn off the stoves. Groo, the ovens.
Groo moves to do it, Cordy hesitates.

CORDELIA
Angel, why--
ANGEL
Hurry.

As she switches off the burners...

ANGEL (cont'd)
Cordy, you and the others get Fred to
a hospital.
CORDELIA
Didn't we talk about that? Infecting
the world blah blah blah.

ANGEL
We don't have a choice. They can
keep her hydrated there, hopefully
long enough to surgically get that
thing out of her.

GROOSALUGG
We are surrounded. How are we to get
past?

ANGEL
I'll keep 'em occupied. Slow 'em
down as long as I can.

CORDELIA
How do you expect to do that?

ANGEL
By giving 'em what they want.

LOW ANGLE shot of water spilling over the rim of the sink, hitting the floor, puddling near Angel's feet.

Angel picks up his sword.

ANGEL (cont'd)
Groo. Damsel in distress. You know
the drill.
GROO nods, then goes to Fred and lifts her over his shoulder. She drops the bottle and begins to flail weakly, MURMURING incoherently.

Angel crosses to the side door, the one connected to the ballroom, and unbolts it.

CORDELIA
Angel--
ANGEL
Go. Save Fred.
(off her hesitation)
Please.

Cordy reluctantly turns and joins the others at the door. Lorne unbolts it.

ANGEL (cont'd)
Now!
He kicks the door open and

A SWARM OF SLUKS slither in. Immediately finding the water.

ON THE OTHERS as they push their way out the other entrance.

LOW ANGLE - As Sluks Swarm past them, toward the water.

ON CORDELIA, in the doorway, she turns to see

HER POV - ANGEL, battling away at the Sluks as they attack him.

IN HALL

ON GROO - Looking back and seeing

CORDELIA, at the door looking at Angel. She brings up her sword and runs back into the kitchen.

GROO reacts with heartbreak, then turns and continues.

IN KITCHEN, Cordelia arrives at Angel's side, fighting by his side.

ANGEL (cont'd)
Cordelia! I told you to get out of
here!
CORDELIA
Make me.

INT. ANGEL'S HOTEL - LOBBY - MEANWHILE

LORNE and GROO with FRED arrive in the lobby. As they reach the front steps...

GUNN (O.S.)
Put my girl down.
GROO and LORNE turn to see

GUNN, having come in the rear entrance, rushing over to them, holding a paper bag.

LORNE
Gunn! Where did--
GUNN
News updates later. Just lay her
down.

GROO gently puts Fred down on the steps. She's kinda out of it and her breathing's labored.

GROOSALUGG
She requires a healer.
GUNN
No. She requires this.

He produces the bottle of vodka from the bag.

GUNN (cont'd)
Hold her arms.
(off their hesitation)
Do it!
GROO and LORNE comply. And Gunn puts the bottle to Fred's lips.

FRED comes out of her stupor and beings to drinks ravenously, at first. Then, her face registers PAIN, and she tries to turn away, coughing and choking.

GUNN (cont'd)
C'mon, baby. Drink.
As he continues to pour it down her throat...

INT. ANGEL'S HOTEL - KITCHEN - MEANWHILE

ON ANGEL and CORDY, fighting off the Sluk horde, side-by-side.

Sluks are now everywhere on the walls, the ceiling.

ON CORDELIA as she notices

HER POV - TWO Sluks on a cabinet near Angel about to lunge. Angel doesn't notice.

CORDELIA
Two incoming. Four o'clock.
ON ANGEL, hearing that, spins as the two Sluks pounce. His sword catches both in mid-air, slicing each down the middle.

CORDY smiles. They make a helluva team. She fails to see

A SLUK near her head. He leaps at her. And...

HER HAND snaps out, catching the creature in mid-air.

ON ANGEL, seeing and reacting.

ON CORDY, stunned herself.

THE SLUK squirms in her hand trying to get to her face.

INT. ANGEL'S HOTEL - LOBBY - MEANWHILE

ON FRED, still being force fed the vodka. Suddenly, she seems to convulse, as it she's going to throw up.

CUT OUT as GUNN pulls the bottle away and the others back up.

ON FRED, as the SLUK slithers out of her mouth. It's smaller and now a cloudy shade of gray. IT falls to the floor and weakly tries to slither away.

ON GROO - He takes Lorne's sward and JABS it down into the creature, which emits a "squeal" and continues to struggle to free itself.

INT. ANGEL'S HOTEL - KITCHEN - MEANWHILE

ON CORDELIA as the hand holding the Sluk begins to GLOW. (A WHITE GLOW as opposed to the BLUE-ISH tint of the Sluks.)

CORDELIA stares incredulously, and open-mouthed, as the glow intensifies and begins to move up her arm and into her head.

GUNN (cont'd)
Okay, so I took off when those things
started coming outta the floor. I
mean, it's not like I was running out
on you. I was...
(then)
Look, somebody I care about was dying
and I just couldn't sit around and
debate strategy. I saw an
opportunity to... to... get some
kinda help...
Angel just stands there, listening.

GUNN (cont'd)
(getting riled)
Hey, I did what I had to do. And if
you don't get that--
He stops, recognizing the phrase.

Angel just smiles at him (warmly, not smugly).

ANGEL
I think I get it.
GUNN looks at him.

GUNN
Yeah. Guess you do.
ANGEL
So... We good?

Gunn nods.

LORNE
Good? We're not good. Everybody
forgetting a little unexpected
company on the way. Goes by the
initials of "The Destroyer?"
FRED suddenly awakens with a start.

FRED
The Destroyer! I remember... The
Destroyer's coming...
CORDELIA
Right. We got that. Any idea when?

FRED
(thinking)
Um... I think...

Suddenly, there's a HUGE ELECTRICAL CHARGE in the middle of the lobby, accompanied by a LOUD CLAP OF THUNDER.

FRED (cont'd)
Now.
A DIMENSIONAL TEAR opens up and a HUGE, FEROCIOUS MONSTER emerges from it.

SOMETHING ELSE emerges from the tear, somersaulting once, twice -- At which time a glistening blade SWIPES at the MONSTER, cleaving its head and torso in two -- and a third time, and lands on its feet as

THE HUGE, FEROCIOUS MONSTER falls dead, out of frame.

ON THE FEET of this something else - We travel up to see it's a TEENAGE BOY, roughly 16, adorned with jewelry made from the teeth, bones and other trophies of the many unfortunate demons and creatures he's butchered. Strapped to one forearm is a CURVED, SERRATED BLADE (the one that killed the huge beastie). And in his other hand, an exotic and lethal looking, handheld weapon from which protrude a half-dozen sharpened stakes.

THE BOY raises up his weapon, aims it directly at Angel's heart and says:

CONNOR
Hi. Dad.
ON ANGEL (standing exactly where he was in Cordelia's vision), looking astonished, as we...